I don't know where to begin. I've read your story a couple of times now, and maybe left a review here and there saying simply that I enjoyed it. But I don't think that's enough, so even though this review won't do it justice I'm going to try anyway.

The hospital/medical scenes are very well written and authentic. You have a wonderful mix of information and emotion. In many fics these scenes are rushed and unrealistic, or just plain inaccurate. Your story, however, is done of these. In fact, it is the complete opposite.

I went through every emotion reading this. Sometimes I was laughing, sometimes I was worried, and a few times I was so angry I could've jumped through my phone screen and attacked someone myself. Sometimes I was curious (why exactly does Pony not like grilled cheese anymore? I know it has to do with HIM).

But I think what I'm most impressed with is that you really capture the essence of each character, and write them so wonderfully. And not only that, the way you do it keeps drawing me back in. If I'm not sitting and reading then I'm thinking about Pony and what's in store for him.

Good work. This is going to be one of the iconic stories on this site.

Alright, I’m going to try really hard to keep this brief.

1) I absolutely love this fanfiction! Any story/book that can make me laugh/cry is really good, because I’ve been told by nearly everyone I know that I have as much emotion as a rock.

2) I really love the role that Tim, Curly, and his gang play in this. It really shows that even though they aren’t part of the same gang, they’re still greasers and they’ll always have each other’s backs.

3) Semi-related to the second one: the kind of friends that Two-Bit and Steve are... I’m honestly speechless. I love how you portrayed them in this, it shows how loyal and protective they both are.

4) I usually hate stories about this kind of abuse because it makes me sick and angry that this really does happen. But this was something different. I really like that.

5) This is a pretty serious plot, but the fact that you were able to make me laugh and smile at times without taking away from the intensity is honestly amazing.

6) You really made me hate Martin Campbell. He is the Devil, I swear. (This is a compliment!)

7) I don’t usually like to read in first POV because most authors (myself included) aren’t really able to capture all of the feelings and thoughts of the person without making it either overly sentimental or not enough. But you’ve done a great job writing in Darry’s POV, and I’m sure that if this were to actually happen, these would be his thoughts exactly.

Okay, I know I said I’d make this brief, but honestly, I have about ten more reasons why I love this. Great job with this! You should be very proud of yourself.

Stay gold!

-saddenedlevi

Again in this chapter, Two-Bit is just fantastic. He makes for a lovely bit of comic relief without disrupting the inevitable heaviness of this story. And he's just such a solid friend, him and Steve both as we see later in the chapter. Both of them are super supportive and doing their level best, in their own way.

As for Darry, his narration continues to be perfect, and my heart continues to ache. That scene with the older woman was precious and acknowledges how desperately in need Darry is right now of someone to take care of him, and not just a friend but an actual adult, an actual parent. But some random older lady at a hospital gift shop is as close as he's going to get, while he's still got the whole world resting on his shoulders. I love the little stuffed pony; it's so incredibly cheesy but really seems to fit.

You do a great job with slowly building the tension about the Social Services stuff, dropping hints here and there about "he belongs to the State, let them pay for it" and "if only the State hadn't interfered," leading up to Soda's total freak-out on the agent. The reader at this point doesn't know exactly *why* yet but can start to piece together some things. It's a great way to handle that element. And I find it totally believable that Soda, being so emotional and, as I think you say later in the story, wearing his heart on his sleeve, would freak out like that, while Darry keeps his cool not because he's any less upset than Soda but because he has to. He knows that everything he does counts either for or against him as a guardian, and he knows that somehow he has to work with this crap government system even though they're literally the reason Pony is in the condition he's in. But he'll use a little bit of intimidation if he has to to get the message across.

Once again, fantastic chapter; your characterization is phenomenal, and I really love this story (in a totally heartbroken and overloaded feels sort of way). ;)

'Kay, so I've already read pretty far into this, and *man* is it good, but I got to feeling guilty about enjoying it so much without reviewing (my excuse is I was on mobile, and I *hate* the way they've got the mobile reviewing set up), so I figured I'd come back and reread the beginning and properly tell you how awesome I think this story is.

First off, I just finished the book for the first time and still haven't watched the movie; I'm an ELL teacher and the class I'm co-teaching is reading this book. They just did chapter 8 today, but I couldn't wait and finished the whole thing a couple days ago (oh, my heart!). I am gonna wait to watch the movie with the kids though. Just so you know my level of familiarity.

But just from the book, I love Darry so much, and I was thrilled to find a such a long fic from his POV. Especially because your characterization is *phenomenal*. I totally feel like this *is* Darry, that if the book had been from his POV it would have sounded exactly like this. You capture the tone and dialect of the book while clearly establishing a different narrative voice; although it sounds like S. E. Hinton, it doesn't sound like Ponyboy. It's Darry. So major, major kudos.

And the story is just heart-wrenching. You capture the emotions very strongly as well as all the love and affection among the brothers and members of the gang. Darry feels strong - as strong as anybody could be in this situation - but you can feel his heart breaking. That scene in the bathroom was incredible. I'm so glad you're letting Two-Bit and Steve have their part in all this, too, since they're family as well and all that's left of the gang. I love how Two-Bit is so clearly unprepared for this and has no idea what to do; it feels very authentic to his character.

So, in sum, awesome characterization and good start to a story I already know is phenomenal. I'll try to review along and along, even though I'm dying to keep plowing ahead, because this story really does deserve taking the time to give some feedback.

Two chapters in and I am HOOKED! Can't wait to continue

fantastic first chapter! you have a fantastic style of writing and I can't wait to read more. you draw the reader in whilst keeping lots held back to draw the readers interest into the storm x

This is so good. Crying already. I started at chap 1!

Loved reading this

I always get so sad when ponyboy can't run again. running was his thing. its what hr did to calm down. running made him feel good.

Such good writing. Loved every bit of this story. Was sad when you almost killed ponyboy off though. So glad you didn't.

Oh my gosh. This was an amazing story. I just finished reading tonight at 11:30 pm. I started reading the other night and found myself staying up until 3:30 am for the past few nights. I would start reading after coming home from work or last night I was roller skating. You are an amazing writer. I hope that you will write another story.

Please please don't write another story! :( my mind and emotions won't be able to take it!
You crafted this story so brilliantly and everything was so impactful and meaningful. Seeing the brother's progress and try to overcome this hurdle, being able to see what Darry was feeling through his eyes yet still seeing Soda's struggle come through. Going through with Pony, just wishing beyond hope that he could make it through this horror and just start living.
I'm not sure if you have medical background or just really did your research but your handling of everything regarding this was so masterfully done. From Pony's hospital stay, the emotional turmoil of the brothers, the recovery/relapse and mental/physical damage done to Pony and not handling by putting a fluffly bow on it to make everything magically better, the support from Steve and Two-Bit and the other Greasers showing that they weren't one dimensional characters and their reactions to Ponyboy's injuries and suffering. I'm just so happy with all of this because there was a care taken in making sure what Ponyboy went through was portrayed with accuracy. Even the development of Greg, Eric, and Beth was done so well with the boys. Which, by the way, go Eric!
I can honestly say that I thought the scene with Darry and Campbell was going to go way different when he pulled out that knife. I thought he was going to give the man a taste of his own medicine by shoving the knife up his anus but castration worked just as well.
I want to go on but I fear I'd make this comment a small story if I did so I'll leave with this:
I don't often read first POV because I find them poorly done with little character insight and development but god, this one was just beyond perfection! I don't know how you could write much of this as it was even difficult to read and that just says so much about you as a writer that you were able to write such dark stuff without losing the story and the characters. You made something so horrid and unimaginable yet still kept that flicker of light, the hope that while this couldn't have a happy ending, the Curtis brothers had a chance of closure, of justice. I'll admit there were a few chapters in there I lost hope of this, the last few chapters being the worst, but I held out and it wasn't a happy ending but I'd like to think it is the slow start to a happy beginning.

Thank you so much for writing this beautiful story.

Aw it sucks to see a great story come to an end. I hope that you continue to write more for us to read, I know I'll enjoy them. Keep writing!

Wow! What a crazy, wonderful ride you’ve taken us on! Take a well-deserved rest, but know that I will be here ready and waiting for whatever else your creative juices produce. Thank you for sharing your talents!